The aim of this project is to develop a micro structured thin film interpenetrating phase composites with tailored mechanical and drug release properties. Therefore an inactive matrix will be combined with an active pharmacologically active agent. To ensure predictable and reliable pharmacokinetic properties of this substance it is essential to ensure the integrity of the micro structured thin film for the time of period of treatment.

The first step to reach this goal is to produce highly porous, 3-dimensional scaffold structures made of biocompatible metal oxides (ZnO and SnO2) and/or substrate materials like metals (NiTi or Mg). Followed by the development of the deposition method for the pharmaceutical active thin layer meeting the mechanical demands, like adequate adhesion to the substrate and the biological demands like constant or predictable rate of degradation/release of bioavailable pharmacological agents. To apply the pharmaceutical active agent to the substrate vacuum deposition and the infiltration by diffusion method are used and combined with tailored diffusion barriers (focused on in Project P4). The combination of modified metal oxide or metal substrates for the pharmacologically active agent will be investigated regarding the interaction of this composite material with biological environment and its biocompatibility (Project P7). Therefore innovative strategies especially for Glioblastoma treatment will be developed together with Project P8. Process parameters of the substrate material and the deposed pharmaceutically active agent will be modified and optimized based on those scientific findings. Detailed chemical and structural analysis of the drug release and the degradation of diffusion barriers will be performed by Scanning-Raman-Spectroscopy to enable quantitative and qualitative evaluation of drug release and material degradation to make predictions on pharmacokinetic properties to develop innovative and highly specific drug delivery systems based on thin film interpenetrating phase composites.